The first leg of the Champions League knockout play-offs has been rocked by allegations of racism.

Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior was subjected to a hostile environment during the match at Portuguese club Benfica’s home ground.

In response to the allegations, UEFA has handed a provisional suspension to Argentine forward Gianluca Prestianni.

Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory in last week's clash, thanks to a lone goal from Vinícius.

Following the goal, the Brazilian forward’s exuberant celebration near the corner flag sparked friction among the home supporters and several Benfica players.

Shortly after, Vinícius reported that Prestianni had directed racial slurs at him. The referee halted play for approximately 10 minutes as the situation unfolded.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé later claimed that Prestianni covered his mouth with his jersey while calling Vinícius a "monkey."

Defense and Investigation
Prestianni has denied the racism charges. In his statement to UEFA, he claimed he did not use a racial slur but admitted to using a "homophobic" term instead.

Under UEFA’s current ruling, Prestianni is barred from playing in the second leg scheduled for Wednesday (February 25) at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Meanwhile, a full investigation remains underway. If the racial slur is proven, the Argentine forward could face a maximum ban of 10 matches under UEFA’s disciplinary code.